marlene_InterRail2010
Traveller
5 comments
Posted 15 years ago
Hey there,
a friend of mine and I are planning our interrail trip through Europe for one month in august. It’s the first time to do this for both of us, so we are totally inexperienced. It would be great, if you could help us :)
We start our trip in Salzburg from where we go with the nighttrain to Berlin. From Berlin we want to go to Hamburg. Our next station will be Scandinavia. We thought, we would go to Malmö through Copenhagen. Do you think this is the best way to go there and do we have to use the Ferry? Do you have any ideas, which cities in Sweden and Norway are worth visiting? We thought about Malmö, Stockholm, Göteborg and Oslo. After Norway we want to go to Amsterdam. Are there any possibilities to go there directly or do we have to go through Denmark? We also want to see Brüssel and Paris.
In general, do you think we can do this in one month without being stressed or do you think we even have time to see more cities? And what do you think of the Tour?
Do you have any other proposals for us? Maybe you also have advices about what to visit in the cities (sights, clubs,…)?
Thanks in advance
Marlene :)
Flo
Traveller
10725 comments
Hi Marlene!
You will find lots of basic infos on how to plan your trip and how to find all the information you need in the forum here: [u]https://rail.cc/en/first-interrail-tour/f3303[/u]
Salzburg - Berlin: If you want to use a night train, take the one that leaves from Muenchen.
Berlin - Hamburg: Frequent free ICE services
Hamburg - Kopenhagen - Malmoe: There are several free ICE services to Kopenhagen which are carried on a ferry between Puttgarden and Rodby - this is included in your IR pass. As you will return to Kopenhagen later during your trip, I´d recommend to travel on to Malmoe. There are frequent (every 20 minutes or so) trains running over Oeresundbridge.
Scandinavia: Malmoe and Stockholm are nice cities, havent been to Oslo or Goeteborg yet, but I´d say go there as well. If you have enough time (and I think you have if you are travelling one month) maybe think of going far north as well. Either in Sweden with Inlandsbanan Oestersund - Gaellivare or in Norway Oslo - Trondheim - Bodoe. You could do this as a circle as well, but then would cover one part by bus or boat (which isnt included in the IR pass - there is a topic regarding this in the forum).
When returning to Central Europe, you could then make a stop in Kopenhagen. And then continue with direct CNL train to Amsterdam overnight.
Amsterdam - Bruxelles - Paris: Dont use the expensive Thalys services, there are cheaper alternatives available (info in the relevant country boards of the forum). And think of visiting Antwerpen, Gent and Bruegge as well if you are staying in Bruessel. ;)
When I´m back home I can surely give your more details,
Flo 8)
marlene_InterRail2010
Traveller
5 comments
Hi Flo!
Thank you very much for your quick answer :) I'm going to see my friend today and tell her the things, you've told me. Would be great, if I could contact you once again if we have some more questions (and I'm sure we'll have).
Greets
Marlene :)
marlene_InterRail2010
Traveller
5 comments
I'm very sorry that I have to write again, but it isn't as uncomplicated as I thought ;)
Yesterday I talked to my friend and she was very pleased about the good information. Thank you so far.
You said, it’s the best way to go from Hamburg directly to Malmoe. Have I understood correctly, that there is a train connection?
You also said, you’d visit Inlandsbanan Oestersund, Gaellivare, Trondheim and Bodoe and it’s the best way to do this as a circle. How much time do you think is realistic to do this without being stressed and what part would you cover by bus or boat?
As you said we should also visit Antwerpen, Gent and Bruegge. Is it recommendable to do this as a daytrip from Bruxelles?
And as an experienced interrailer, do you think there will be time left to go to Spain or is it too stressful?
I have to say sorry again for all my questions.
Marlene :)
Peter
Traveller
9339 comments
Hi Marlene.
As Flo is still traveling, I continue with some answers to your questions.
Hamburg-Malmö: direct ICE train Hamburg-Copenhagen, change the train and then continue with the frequently running Oeresund train to Malmö(like Flo mentioned above).
The route Oestersund - Inlandsbanan - Gällivare - Narvik - Bodoe - Trondheim - Oslo is easy to do in a circle.
But you will have to use a bus (not included in InterRail) from Narvik to Bodoe:
[u]https://rail.cc/en/bodoe-narvik-hurtigruten-lofoten-bus/f1285[/u]
Also check the country topics of these countries, there you find all connections and information you need for this route:
[u]https://rail.cc/en/countries[/u]
An other option could be to go up to the North by Inlandsbanan and then back to Stockholm by direct night train.
About the time - one night is enough for most of these places. Oestersund might be nice with two nights - but depends on your mood - decide spontaneously. :)
Antwerpen, Gent and Bruegge: book a hostel in Bruxelles as your base - from there have day trips to these cities. Check the schedule planer and you see it isn't fare away. But avoid THALYS trains in Benelux as for their high supplements.
About Spain:
There is a nice route down starting from Paris - ending up in Barcelona:
[u]https://rail.cc/en/paris-pyrenees-barcelona-le-petit-tain-jaune/f4023[/u]
Peter :)